Albany mosque raises nearly $50,000 for fire victims

Masjid As-Salam serves dinner, presents aid to families

By Mallory Moench

Updated
10:02 pm EDT, Sunday, May 26, 2019

Masjid As-Salam President Shamshad Ahmad and member Abuhamza Hossain, who helped raise checks nearly $50,000 in a week for Albany fire victims, invited them to the Central Avenue mosque on Sunday, May 26, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. less

Masjid As-Salam President Shamshad Ahmad and member Abuhamza Hossain, who helped raise checks nearly $50,000 in a week for Albany fire victims, invited them to the Central Avenue mosque on Sunday, May ... more

Photo: Mallory Moench/Times Union

Photo: Mallory Moench/Times Union

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Masjid As-Salam President Shamshad Ahmad and member Abuhamza Hossain, who helped raise checks nearly $50,000 in a week for Albany fire victims, invited them to the Central Avenue mosque on Sunday, May 26, 2019 in Albany, N.Y. less

Masjid As-Salam President Shamshad Ahmad and member Abuhamza Hossain, who helped raise checks nearly $50,000 in a week for Albany fire victims, invited them to the Central Avenue mosque on Sunday, May ... more

Photo: Mallory Moench/Times Union

Albany mosque raises nearly $50,000 for fire victims

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ALBANY - Just before evening prayers inside a storefront mosque on Central Avenue Sunday, Abuhamza Hossain was scribbling checks for $1,000 to families who lost their homes in fires a week ago.

Masjid As-Salam mosque invited fire victims, firefighters and city officials to iftar, the traditional dinner to break the daily fast from sunrise to sundown during the annual month of Ramadan, which ends next week and is observed by Muslims all over the world.

On May 19, two blazes leaped through the connected attics of Albany row houses, leaving homeless around 15 people who lived on Third Avenue and as many as 60 who lived in row houses on Bradford Street. The day after the fire, the mosque started an online fundraiser and gave the seven families they knew who attended the mosque $1,000 from its own funds, said Masjid As-Salam President Shamshad Ahmad.

Within a week, the online fundraiser brought in nearly $50,000. While many of the donations were just a few dollars, one donor gave $1,000 to buy furniture for a family of four and another gave $5,000 for continuous support.

The displaced included refugees from Afghanistan, Burma and Iraq, immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal, and U.S-born residents.

"Within the first 24 hours, the support was overwhelming. People all over the world came together to join this effort," said Abuhamza Hossain, 25, a member of the mosque who helped organize the fundraiser. "I still have hope in humanity despite every challenge that we face. Humanity came together in this time."

Before the prayer time and meal, Imam Abdulkadir Elmi welcomed the guests with a blessing: "May God change your situation to be much better than it was before."

Fire chief Joseph Gregory, who said as many as 60 firefighters did their best to contain the blazes, thanked the community for recognizing the fire department's efforts and promised to continue to help victims.

Albany city treasurer Darius Shainfar praised the mosque for its support.

"Albany is about community," he said. "This is one community that is really setting an example of how we should treat each other and help each other."

In the next room where women and children were gathered, Abuhamza Hossain's sister Kahlida was sitting on the floor taking down names and contact information for each homeless family.

"We need a new rug," said a 13-year-old who lost her Bradford Street home with her parents and three younger brothers. The family from Afghanistan arrived in 2017 on a special visa for Afghans who helped the U.S.

"She needs cough medicine," she added as her mother beside her coughed into her headscarf.

"We could make that work," said Hossain, who promised she would do what she could.

Afterwards, the 13-year-old said that even though she felt really bad about losing her home, getting help made her feel like she has a really good community.

Her neighbor shared how she could only grab a purse and electronic tablet when she lost her home on Bradford Street last Sunday. The family got $850 from the Red Cross but opted to rent a one-bedroom apartment temporarily from friends instead of staying in a hotel to save money.

But the apartment is old and dirty, she said, with stairs falling in and bugs everywhere. The family used money only for food and milk for her two sons and are saving the rest, worried about rent once they find a permanent home.

The mosque said the check Sunday was just the first round from donations and that they would keep giving the families money as it comes in.

"Their life is devastated but at least it's consolation," Ahmad said.

How to help fire victims

Give to Masjid As-Salam's ongoing fundraiser online or with check. Make checks out to to Masjid As-Salam, with "Bradford Fire Victims" written on the memo line can be mailed to Masjid As-Salam, 276 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206.

Bring new (in-package) socks, undergarments and toiletries to the Mayor's Office in City Hall at 24 Eagle Street, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donate furniture to either the Habitat for Humanity Restore in the Capital District (518-275-6638) or the Capital Region Furniture Bank (518-612-2265) where fire victims can get items for free.